Holding means fob electric fixttjkes



Sept. 10, 1929. A. L. EUSTICE HOLDING MEANS FOR ELECTRIC FIX TUBES Filed May 10, 1922 Inventor fib rac L. E'usfizjoq Patented Sept. 10, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED L. EUSTICE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

HOLDING MEANS FOR ELECTRIC FIXTURES.

Application filed. May 10, 1922. Serial No. 559,762.

The present invention relates to holding wall outlet or receptacle illustrated in Figmeans for electric fixtures. ure 1;

In providing mountings for electric iiX- Figures 4; and are views in front elevatures it is common practice to provide a tion and side elevation respectively of an 5 switch which presents a plane surface sul electric plug member adapted to be applied stantially flush with the wall, floor or ceiling to the wall outlet or receptacle shown in Figin which it is mounted, said switch being ures 2 and 3; ordinarily termed a wall outlet or recep- Figure 6 is a view in front elevation, parts tacle. A mating switch member, termed. a being broken away, showing an embodiment 10 plug, is also provided having parts project of the present invention cooperating with ing into and interfitting with the wall outlet the wall outlet or receptacle shown in Figfor providing a more or less convenient elecures 2 and 3 and the plug member shown in trical connection between the wall outlet and Figures 4 and 5; and an electric fixture. In order to provide a Figure 7 is a view in side elevation, parts 15 neat job, the electric fixture may be mounted being broken away, illustrating a modified flush with the surface carrying the wall outembodiment of the present invention. let, which arrangement presents certain The numeral 10 indicates a wall outlet of problems. Inasmuch as in many instances well known construction having a face plate the electric fixtures are intended to be sold 11 adapted to be mounted substantially flush 20 to and mounted by persons who are not with a wall or other member providing a skilled artisans, it is desirable to reduce substantially vertical flat surface. In the to a minimum the difficulties attendant to rear of the face plate 11 is the receptacle 12 the job of mounting the fixtures and to procontaining certain mechanism which need vide a structure which, though readily not be described herein, providing terminals 25 mounted. or dismounted, will always mainfor electric wiring. The face of the receptain its proper position upon the surface tacle 12 may be provided with a plurality of upon which it is mounted. slots 1313 for the reception of projecting An object of the present invention is to tongues of the plug member. A plug memprovide an electric fixture cooperating with her of well known construction is illustrated 30 structure which is now in common use, said in Figures 4 and 5 and is indicated by the 0 fixture having the advantage that it may be numeral 14. Said plug member 1 1 has the readily mounted by a person having a miniprojecting tongues 1515 adapted to project mum of mechanical skill, will present a neat into certain of the slots 1313 of the wall appearance, and will maintain itself in receptacle 10, Said plug member 14 will be 5 proper position. provided with binding post means whereby 5 A. further object is to provide an improveconnection may be made to some electric ment which may be applied to electric fix translating device such as an electric socket. tures now in common use whereby to sim- The plug 14- is illustrated as being of the plify the mounting of said fixtures and to kind which. is known in the art as an Elexit 0 improve their stability when mounted. plug and need not be described in detail Further objects will appear as the descripherein, though it may be stated briefly that tion proceeds. the rear portion of said device is provided Referring to drawingswith a pair of hook-shaped members 1616 Figure 1 represents in side elevation, parts adapted to enter slots 17-17 of the face 45 being broken away, one embodiment of the plate 10 and spring into locking engagement present invention applied to an electric side with said face plate. When said hookwall outlet or receptacle of well known shaped members 16'16 are interlocked with construction; p the face plate-11, the plug member 14c is Figures 2 and 3 are views ir it elevarigid ounted upon the receptacle 10 and and elevation at the Witt Mme loose except area. the actuat 1Q! Cir tion of certain 0 JeratinP' mechanism. The a ainst a skewin movement in a Jlane erifi O :3

operating mechanism, which is well known to those skilled in the art, includes the spring-controlled member 16 which may be moved to release the lock behind the lower hook-shaped member 16, whereby the plug 14 may be removed from the wall face plate 10. The plug 14 is provided with the spring gripping member 18 having the lip 19, which lip 19 is adapted to yieldingly engage part of a wall fixture to hold the same in position on a wall.

The plug member 14 as commonly provided has a pair of substantially parallel side walls 20. According to the present invention, an electric fixture, which is intended to be mounted flush with the same surface which carries the face plate 11, will be provided with a fitting comprising a member adapted to engage the top wall 21 oi said plug member 1 and a pair of members adapted to embrace said plug member ll along the two side walls 20, and adapted to also engage behind the lip 19.

Referring particularly to Figures 1 and 6, a style oi electricfixture is illustrated having a relatively shallow canopy 22. Fastened on the inside of said canopy, as for instance by means of solder, is the fitting 23 having the cross bar and the two depending mem ers 2525, which depend ing members 2525 will have their inside edges preferably arranged in parallel vertically placed lines 26-26. The depending members 25-25 will embrace the side walls -20 of plug member E and the cross bar 2% will rest upon the upper wall of said plug member i l.

The canopy 22 connects with the tube 27 which may lead to an ole tric light socket. Electric wires 27 may extend through the tube 27 from the electric light socket and they may be connected to the plug member 1d under the canopy 22. In accordance with usual electric wiring practice, there may be suliicient length of wire to permit the ready inserting of the plug member 14 into the receptacle 10, after which the electric fixture maybe placed with the base of the canopy 22 substantially flush with the wall and with the depending members 25 in substantial alignment with the side walls 2020 of the plug member 14. A simple downward movement oi the fixture will cause the depending members 25 to embrace the sides or the plug member 14, the cross bar 2 resting upon the top wall 21 of said plug member is. Skewing efiect will be prevented by reason oi the engagement of the depending members 25-25 with the sides of the plug member 1a. The member 1% has portions 2828 projecting laterally from each side thereof, which portions are adapted to engage depending portions 25-25, whereby the canopy 22 is held pendicular to the wall on which it is mounted.

The modification illustrated in Figure 7 s rows a very popular type of electric fixture and one which under ordinary practice presents difficulties to inexperienced workers when said inexperienced workers attempt to mount said fixtures. According to the embodiment illustrated in Figure 7, a piece of pipe 29 is employed which serves as a conduit for electric wires leading to the electric socket 30. Said pipe 29 is encased within ornamental tubing 31 which carries the relatively deep canopy 32. According to the present invention, a fitting 38 is provided having a depending leg having a screw-threated hole therein, whereby said leg may have screw-threaded engagement with the end of the pipe 2 A nut 34 also engages the end of the pipe. 29 and serves as a lock nut to hold the fitting 33 in tight engagement with the end of the ornamental tubing 31. It will be understood, of course, that if preferred the fitting 33 need not be screw-threaded, the parts being held to gether in any other preferred way. As in the embodiment illustrated in. {Figures 1 and 6, the fitting is provided with the cross bar 23, which may be united by means of solder or riveting to the canopy 32 and is provided with depending members adapted to embrace the two sides of the plug memher 1%. As described above, in connection with Figures 1 and 6, the electric wires leading to the socket 30 will be of sufiicient length to permit the convenient application of the plug member 14 to the wall receptacle 10. After said plug member 14 has been placed in position relative to said wall receptacle the electric fixture may be conveniently mounted upon the member 14: flush with the Wall by a simple downward movement of said fixture. The ordinary awkward expedient ol sliding the canopy 32 along the tubing 31 is rendered unnecessary, whereby it is unnecessary to provide a sliding connection between said members or locking means for controlling said sliding connection. A locking screw is shown in -Fi ure 7 inasmuch as said fi ure discloses a ta ta canopy of common construction. According to the present invention, however, which removes the necessity for a sliding connection between canopy 32 and tubing 31, the locking screw 35 is unnecessary.

The present invention has the advantages that it provides structure which may be conveniently operated by unskilled persons and will remain in proper position as long as it is in use. The fixture is as readily removed as it is mounted and provides a convenient foolproof construction which may be provided at a minimum of expense.

The illustrated embodiments have been chosen merely for the purpose of illustration and should not be considered in a limiting sense. Many modifications will occur to those skilled in the art. It is intended in this patent to cover all such modifications that fall Within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination, a Wall receptacle, a plug member adapted to be connected thereto, said plug member being non-rotatable and having parallel side Walls, and an electric fixture having a fitting comprising a memher for resting upon the top of said plug member and having members for embracing the sides of said plug member.

2. In combination, a Wall receptacle, a plug adapted to be connected thereto, said plug being non-rotatable and having parallel side Walls and an electric fixture having a fitting comprising a member for resting upon the top of said plug and having members for embracing said side Walls of said plug, said plug being provided With means projecting laterally therefrom in spaced relationship with said wall receptacle and providing an abutment for said fitting in a direction away from said Wall receptacle.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 5th day of May, 1922.

ALFRED L. EUSTIOE. 

